December 14, 2010

Spurred by poor health indicators that show a need for Georgia to re-evaluate its public health priorities, the Public Health Commission recently concluded that an independent Department of Public Health should be formed, and its primary charge would be overseeing the health of all Georgians. The commission, a nine-member panel of industry professionals, was convened through an act of legislation passed in 2009, and its recommendations were presented through a report to the governor, lieutenant governor and state General Assembly. Read more

December 7, 2010

Prompted by a proposed settlement on Georgia Power’s massive rate request, Georgia Watch, AARP and other parties to the case are proposing modifications which, if adopted by the Public Service Commission (PSC) would cut in half the potential impact on ratepayers, while lowering the utility’s allowed profit margin to industry averages. Read more

November 19, 2010

Georgia Power has reached a settlement with Public Service Commission staff to reduce its rate increase request from $1.1 billion to $844 million. Georgia Watch is strongly opposed to the settlement, as it would still raise monthly electric bills for the average residential ratepayer by more than $10 per month in 2011, and increase incrementally to over $15 per month by 2013.

“It’s simply the wrong time for a big rate increase. Under the current settlement, electric bills would go up more than $170 per year. In the worst economy since the Great Depression, Georgia families and businesses simply can’t afford it,” said Clare McGuire, Director of the Georgia Watch Consumer Energy Program. Read more

November 18, 2010

On Tuesday, Georgia Watch partnered with Tift Regional Medical Center to host a consumer workshop entitled “Affording Hospital Care,” aiming to educate patients and their families on the best ways to manage their hospital debt.

Two sessions were held: a lunch session at noon and an evening session at 6 p.m. At each session, consumers were given information on the best ways to afford their hospital care and financial assistance available to them from the hospital. Read more

November 15, 2010

The 2011 Georgia General Assembly kicks off on January 10th. There will be a lot of new faces this year as there will be 33 new representatives in the House. 12 of 56 incumbent state senators either moved on or were defeated on election day. And of course, Governor Sonny Perdue has reached the two term limit and will be succeeded by former Congressman Nathan Deal. Read more

November 7, 2010

Last Tuesday, a ballot measure that would have infused an estimated $80 million into the state’s trauma network failed by a narrow margin – 53 percent to 47 percent.

Passage of this measure would have dedicated funding from annual car tag fees to beefing up emergency care at hospitals around our state. The proposed amendment to our state’s constitution would require a $10 fee to be included with other charges during annual registration of certain motor vehicles. The failure of this amendment’s passage could tip the balance between life and death for any Georgian. Read more

November 4, 2010

Georgia Watch and Tift Regional Medical Center have joined together to sponsor “Affording Hospital Care,” a free consumer workshop to be held on Tuesday, November 16 at the Neighborhood Services Center in Tifton.

The event aims to empower consumers on how best to approach a hospital visit and keep in check rising healthcare costs. Also at the workshop, consumers will learn the latest health news, including the potential impact of the recently passed federal healthcare law. Read more

October 27, 2010

Despite the recommendation of its own staff, the Public Service Commission has voted to allow Atlanta Gas Light Company (AGL) a $26 million rate increase – a rate hike that will amount to about $10 more per year for the average ratepayer. Read more

October 20, 2010

On November 02, Georgia voters will be asked to choose whether the state constitution should be amended to require an annual $10 fee for certain motor vehicles, with an estimated $80 million in resulting revenues to go directly to fund trauma centers across the state. With Georgia leading the nation in unemployment and bankruptcy, increased fees of all kinds are receiving extra scrutiny from citizens struggling to make ends meet. In deciding how they will cast their vote on Amendment 2, some voters may be asking, “Why is this important for me and my family?” Read more

October 7, 2010

Earlier this week, Georgia Watch teamed up with AARP, the Georgia Retail Association (GRA), the Georgia Retired Educators Association (GREA), and others to rally on the steps of the state capitol and highlight consumer concerns over Georgia Power’s $1 billion rate request.

The event went great. All major television outlets in Atlanta covered our press conference. In addition, various print, radio, and web outlets across the state – from Rome to Athens to Gainesville – covered the public hearing at the Public Service Commission. Read more

Oct. 4, 2010

Georgia Watch, AARP, the Georgia Retail Association (GRA), the Georgia Retired Educators Association (GREA), and others are holding a rally today on the steps of the state capitol at 10:30 a.m. to highlight consumer concerns over Georgia Power Co.’s $1 billion rate request, scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, 2011. Read more

September 28, 2010

If you need assistance with your energy bills, LIHEAP may be able to help. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP, was created to assist low income households, particularly those with the lowest incomes that pay a high proportion of household income for home energy. Read more

September 15, 2010

Tom Crawford of Georgia Report has written a great opinion piece about Georgia Power’s billion dollar rate request. He begins by asking readers to imagine the statewide response if one of Georgia’s gubernatorial candidates proposed a billion dollar tax increase.

Crawford’s answer: “That candidate would be burned to a crisp in the ensuing political firestorm…His chances of winning the governor’s office would be zero.”

Crawford goes on to explain why a similar response to the Georgia Power rate request is warranted. Read Crawford’s piece here.